31.18
Before
the surrender actually took place, the Roman envoys who had been sent to
Alexandria heard of the siege of Abydos, and the youngest of the three, M.
Aemilius, went at the suggestion of his colleagues to Philip. He remonstrated
against the war that had been made on Attalus and the Rhodians, and
especially against the attack on Abydos. On the king replying that Attalus
and the Rhodians had been the aggressors he asked, "Were the people of
Abydos also the first to take up arms?" To one who seldom heard the truth
this language seemed too bold to address to a king. "Your youth, your good
looks and, above all, the fact of your being a Roman make you too
venturesome. It is my wish that you should remember treaty obligations and
keep the peace with me, but if you begin the attack, I too am quite ready to
fight, and you will find the kingdom and name of Macedon no less renowned
in war than those of Rome." After dismissing thus the envoy Philip took
possession of the gold and silver which had been collected, but he lost all
chance of making prisoners. For such a madness fell on the people that they
believed that all who had met their death in battle had been suddenly
betrayed, and they accused one another of perjury, especially the priests, for
they were surrendering to the enemy those whom they had devoted to death.
Seized by one sudden impulse they all rushed off to kill their wives and
children, and then they inflicted death upon themselves in every possible
form. The king was utterly astounded at this outburst of madness and called
off his men from the assault, telling them that he would allow the people of
Abydos three days in which to die. During this interval the vanquished
wrought more horrors upon themselves than the victors would have done,
however infuriated they might have been. Not a single man fell into the
hands of the enemy alive, save those for whom chains or some other cause
beyond their control made death impossible. After leaving a force in
occupation of Abydos, Philip returned to his kingdom. As the destruction of
Saguntum strengthened Hannibal's resolve to war against Rome, so the fall
of Abydos encouraged Philip to do the same. On his way he was met by
couriers who announced that the consul was now in Epirus and was
wintering his troops in Apollonia and his naval force at Corcyra.
